Anna Bowen

For over 40 years, the one thing that her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren could count on was that Sunday mornings were special at Grandma Bowen's house. With coffee always on the table and Grandpa sitting there reading his paper, Grandma happily made pancakes for anyone who asked for them. The chatter was boisterous and unlimited and being together as a family was always the priority. Sunday morning, November 3, 2013, however, was a different kind of special, as those same children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were able to watch her take her last breaths here on earth as she was reunited with Grandpa after being apart for seven long weeks. Born February 23, 1933, Anna L. Bowen was the daughter of King E. Coolbaugh and Walter I. and Nellie R. Benjamin Edsell. Anna spent her childhood in the Neath and LeRaysville areas and attended LeRaysville area schools and as a young woman, she also spent a period of time enjoying the Florida sunshine. In the late 1960's, Anna headed back to Bradford County, and on December 19, 1970, she married Richard "Dick" Bowen. For almost 43 years, the never-ending love that they shared fostered a legacy of a large, loud, and loving family, timeless friendships, and living the example of selfless giving in a million ways. Anna's life was one that was always filled with new experiences and adventure. Sometimes these things were chosen, and many times they were not, but she always faced every day with a positive and can-do-it attitude. Anna raised nine children and welcomed grandkids into the family throughout the 1970's and 1980's, all while Dick's career took them all over Pennsylvania and New York, and even as far away as Virginia. When they returned to Bradford County in the early 1980's, she helped Dick and his son Bob run a dairy farm in LeRaysville, and then they started their own trucking company, R&A Development Corporation. Anna also filled her time working a substitute bus driver for the Northeast Bradford School District, and then took a position as a bus driver for the Endless Mountains Transportation Authority, where first she made the daily run to the Lycoming Mall, and later on, drove the smaller van routes before she retired in 2005. She was also the consummate seamstress, she loved to knit and crochet, she spent hours reading any and all kinds of books, especially mysteries and thrillers, and anyone who knew her could attest to her phenomenal cooking and baking skills, especially her Spanish rice and the BEST brown bread ever. Along with family, work, and her hobbies, Anna also somehow found the time, without fail, to give back to the Windham community. Dick and Anna, along with their friends Hugh and Betty Brown, founded the Windham Ambulance Association in the early 1970's, and Anna was one of the first people to become a licensed EMT in this area. Anna also served as an auditor for Windham Township for many years. Her service to community didn't stop there. She was a member of the Windham Fire Company, Department 19 for over 40 years, helping both the fire company and with the Ladies Auxiliary. She was also an active member of the Rome Order of The Eastern Star, Chapter 26 and of the North Orwell Union Church. Anna and Dick loved to square dance and polka when they were younger, and in retirement, they enjoyed camping in their motor home, going to the local races to watch Barry and Brian race, and heading off occasionally to enjoy NASCAR or visit their friends far and wide. As she joins Dick, who left on September 14 to prepare a place for them both, she leaves behind her children, Rexford Cook of Boca Raton, FL, Joy and Michael Drake and Rodney Cook, all of Litchfield, Barry and Kathy Bowen, Lois and Terry Gray, Gale and Tammy Bowen, all of Windham, Dale Bowen and Missy Schultz of Athens, her daughter-in-law, Terry Bowen of Towanda, and her beloved dog, Etta. Her 17 grandchildren, Jill, Kasey, Kelly, Tammy, Ryan, Karrie, Brian, Ryan, John, Mindy, Tara, Cheyenne, LeRae, Mark, Kati, Kami, and Tyler, and all of their significant others, will also feel her absence and cherish her memory. The loves of her life, however, were her great-grandchildren, 33 in total, many of whom picked her flowers and drew her pictures and spent a lot of time giving her lots of hugs and kisses. Anna will be so missed by her sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Charles Watson of Auburn, PA, and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Walter Jr. and Kay Edsell of Camptown, and Kenneth and Sandy Edsell of Sayre, and her sister-in-law, Marie Williams of Wyalusing. Anna's life also greatly touched the people that became her brothers and sisters not just by marriage, but more so because of her kind and loving spirit: her sisters-in-law Judy Horton of Tioga, PA, Alida Bowen of Martinsburg, WV, and Betty Bowen of Rome, as well as George and Jean Corbin, Okeechobee FL, Jerry and Linda Corbin of Sayre, and Christine and Ira Thetga of Potterville, and her special friends Mercy Strope, Minnie Chaffee, Shirley Snyder, and Charlie VanDokkenburg. Multitudes of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other close friends will forever remember Anna's beautiful smile and loving laugh. As she was welcomed by Dick on Sunday morning, she also was reunited with her sons Ronald Cook and Robert "Bob" Bowen, her grandson, Matthew Dale Bowen, her brothers, George "Eddie" Edsell and Bob Williams, her nephew, Mark Corbin, her in-laws and special friends, Mary and Albert Raupers, Arthur Bowen, Jerry and Jim Connell, Hugh and Betty Brown, Nelsie and Don Boardman, Bill Snyder, Pete Strope, and Pete Chaffee, and the happy barking of Princess and Holly, her dearly-loved dogs, and the scores and scores of cats she spoiled throughout in her life. Anna's life will forever be remembered as a gift that was met daily with the simple effort to have hope and leave a positive imprint on her world and on those with whom she shared love. As such, the family would like to invite the community to calling hours on Friday, November 15 from 6pm-8pm, and Saturday morning, November 16, from 10 am-11 am at the Sutfin Funeral Chapel, 273 S. Main St., Nichols. Funeral services will be at 11:00 on Saturday at the Sutfin Funeral Chapel with a private burial services at the North Orwell Cemetery immediately following. Giving back to her community was at the center of Anna's life, and as such, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Grace Connections in Towanda, PA in loving memory of Anna L. Bowen. The family wishes to thank all of Anna's doctors, nurses, and Memorial Hospital Hospice, especially Rev. Richard Davis, the for compassion and care you gave our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. The time you invested in her gave her much comfort and solace the past few weeks, and our gratitude cannot be expressed enough. Memories, condolences and pictures may be shared by visiting our website at www.sutfinfuneralchapel.com Cemetery Details North Orwell Rome, PA 18837 Loading map Previous Events Visitation NOV 15. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET) Sutfin Funeral Chapel 273 South Main St Nichols, NY 13812 info@sutfinfuneralchapel.com http://sutfinfuneralchapel.com Loading map Visitation NOV 16. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (ET) Sutfin Funeral Chapel 273 South Main St Nichols, NY 13812 info@sutfinfuneralchapel.com http://sutfinfuneralchapel.com Loading map Service NOV 16. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET) Sutfin Funeral Chapel 273 South Main St Nichols, NY 13812 info@sutfinfuneralchapel.com http://sutfinfuneralchapel.com Loading map